Having raced in G1 company in seven of her last eight starts, Matt Laurie’s 4yo Alabama Express mare Treasurethe Moment appreciated the drop in class at Caulfield on Saturday, winning the $300,000 G2 MVRC Sunline Stakes (1600m) with ease.
With no other runner in the race of similar calibre to the multiple G1 winner, the Yulong bred and raced mare had come on since her narrow last start third in the G1 Futurity Stakes behind Pericles, with that winner finishing third behind the unbeaten Autumn Glow at Rosehill on Saturday in the G1 George Ryder Stakes.
With Daniel Stackhouse in the saddle for the first time, the mare jumped away well from the inside gate, settling in the box seat behind Astral Flame who took up the lead.
With ears pricked Astral Flame led at an even tempo, and while the runs started to come from those at the back of the field, Stackhouse waited until then home turn where the leader went wide, and he came along her inside to take the lead.
Kicking up to another gear, the mare powered away from Astral Flame to win by two lengths, with three parts of a length back to Suntora in third.
The victory gave connections confidence to look at heading to Sydney for the $1m G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) on April 11, the same meeting she won the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m) 12 months prior.
Also nominated for the G1 Doncaster Mile, trainer Matt Laurie felt the better option would be the week after against the fillies and mares.
“I think with the trip up there, it gives her time to settle in,” Laurie said.
“The Doncaster is going to be a pretty strong race. Sheza Alibi goes there, Autumn Glow, I presume.
“That might be the right way for us to go.”
Riding the mare for the first time, Stackhouse was suitably impressed.
“She’s a good horse, I knew I was on the best horse, and she travelled beautiful,” Stackhouse said.
“Lachie (Neindorf on Astral Flame) just come off the fence and that just gave us an opportunity to sort of stride up before the corner and she did the rest.
“It's nice to get these opportunities and so nice to reward everybody that put you on and push for you to get here.”
With more than $4.1m in earnings from 11 wins and a further six placed efforts from 18 starts, the Yulong Investments bred Treasurethe Moment is the best of two winners from three to the races out of the now deceased Street Cry mare Draconic Treasure.
Last season’s Champion 3YO Filly off the back of a stellar season, Treasurethe Moment is from an exciting international black type family which includes G1-winning sprinter Rich Tapestry, G1 Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle and Champion Miler Refuse To Bend.
Treasurethe Moment is the best of 13 stakes performers for Yulong’s G1 CF Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice), who will be represented by 12 lots at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale including fillies out of G1-winning mares Sheeza Belter, Forbidden Love and Icebath (NZ), a colt out of the four-time G1 winner Montefilia as well as half-sisters to G1 winners Sunshine In Paris and Ellsberg.
